Before the bell:

U.S. stocks were poised to open little changed Wednesday as investors took a step back and awaited updates on the tax cut extension deal.
Stocks ended mixed Tuesday as investor optimism over the extension of Bush-era tax cuts faded.

Stocks had been higher through most of the session but lost momentum late in the day after President Obama's comments about tax cuts for those making more than $250,000 a year. At a news conference, he said he would push to have them eliminated after the two-year extension is over.
With little economic news due, investors are still watching the developments of the tax cuts deal.
Companies: Costco (COST) reported an increase in both sales and profit for its fiscal first quarter that beat estimates. Net income rose 17% to $312 million compared to $266 million in the year prior. And earnings per share increased 18% to 71 cents per share. Shares of Costco were slightly lower in premarket trade.
Fortune Brands (FO), maker of Jim Beam whiskey, Titleist golf clubs and home security systems, said it will split into three separate businesses -- retaining its liquor operations, spinning off its home products and security unit and selling its golf properties. Shares rose nearly 4% in premarket trading.
World markets:

Oil for January delivery slipped 63 cents to $88.06 a barrel.
Gold futures for February delivery fell $16.1 to $1392.90 an ounce.
The price on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury fell, pushing the yield up to 3.24% from 3.13% late Tuesday. The yield was the highest since late June.